Operations Automation Solution

Building on the Operations Management solution, and by automating the scheduling and delivery of irrigation water delivery requests, farmers' requests for delivery can be confirmed immediately upon request - even at short notice - and farmers reliably receive their water without manual labour. By automatically smoothing demand, it becomes possible to deliver to more farmers simultaneously.

Overview

Instead of just logging a farmer’s request for water delivery for later planning by staff, the Operations Automation solution uses sophisticated demand smoothing techniques and full knowledge of the network of channels, to determine the capacity to deliver the request at the time requested.

The software has a record of all current water orders, of the capacity of every channel reach back to the storage, and of the rate of change at which flow can increase or decrease in each reach. With this knowledge, the new order can be placed in a way that reduces flow changes and channel level fluctuation. This smooths peaks and troughs in demand, to make maximum use of the channel's delivery capacity and thereby more farmers can have their deliveries fulfilled over a given period. When control gates along the length of the channel are still manually operated, the software also reduces the number of control changes required.

After this automatic calculation, the farmer receives an immediate response rather than waiting for human planners to complete their planning cycle. If the request cannot be fulfilled at exactly the time requested, a range of adjacent alternatives are offered to the farmer from which to choose. With this immediate confirmation, farmers feel empowered and in control of their irrigations.

When famers’ service points are automated with a SlipMeter or FlumeGate, the planned delivery is sent directly to the device so that it will open automatically at the desired time and deliver the requested volume of water. The farmer can be confident that the water will be delivered without the need to manually open, close or monitor.

Features and Benefits

Better Service

With immediate response to a water delivery request, farmers are back in control, able to get the water they need, when they need it.

Higher productivity

When water is available when the crop needs it, productivity improves. And with a better service, farmers can be more confident that higher investments in crops will be rewarded.

Less effort

Automated turnouts with pre-programmed delivery, means farmers don’t have to get up at night to open gates or wait around to close them.

Smart

With planning automated, your most experienced staff are freed to add more value to the organisation.

More water

Service points automatically close when the exact amount of water has been delivered, eliminating overwatering and runoff.

Better environmental outcomes

By eliminating runoff, denutrification, polluted drain water and salinification are all reduced reducing costs and helping the environment.

Features and Benefits

Better Service

With immediate response to a water delivery request, farmers are back in control, able to get the water they need, when they need it.

Higher productivity

When water is available when the crop needs it, productivity improves. And with a better service, farmers can be more confident that higher investments in crops will be rewarded.

Less effort

Automated turnouts with pre-programmed delivery, means farmers don’t have to get up at night to open gates or wait around to close them.

Smart

With planning automated, your most experienced staff are freed to add more value to the organisation.

More water

Service points automatically close when the exact amount of water has been delivered, eliminating overwatering and runoff.

Better environmental outcomes

By eliminating runoff, denutrification, polluted drain water and salinification are all reduced reducing costs and helping the environment.

Components

The Operations Automation solution is made up of modular TCC® technology:

RUBICON logo and BayDrive, BladeValve, BladeMeter, CableDrive, FarmConnect, FloodTech, FlumeGate, FlumeMeter, FormiPanel, iBee, MicronLevel, NeuroFlo, SCADAConnect, SlipGate, SlipMeter, SolarDrive, Sonaray, StepGate, Total Channel Control, TCC and ValveGate are trademarks and service marks, or registered trademarks and service marks of Rubicon Water or its affiliates in Australia, the United States of America and other jurisdictions. Systems, components, methodologies and software supplied by Rubicon Water may be the subject of patent and design rights in Australia and elsewhere.